Updating Arts Council policy in Arts and Disability

25 April 2013

A discussion paper and invitation to submit responses

The Arts Council is currently in the process of updating its Arts and Disability policy to reflect developments in provision and practice, and to take ongoing account of the requirements of disability and equality legislation. It is hoped that he development of such a policy will provide clarity and continuity for the Arts Council and the sector over the next five years. Following a process of ongoing consultation and communication with key partners, the Arts Council recently organised two days of policy-related discussion with a broad range of invited arts and disability stakeholders including artists, activists, and individuals working in arts organisations, local authority arts offices and venues. The group was invited to review the Arts Council's current thinking and provision in the area of Arts and Disability, and identify the key strengths, gaps and opportunities that it would like the Arts Council to consider when updating its policy and strategy. The diverse make up of the consultation group reflected the complexity of the sector, and succeeded in bringing a valuable range of perspectives to bear on the ways in which art is made, presented and supported across different contexts and artforms.

The Arts Council would now like to broaden and deepen this conversation further. A document has been drawn up outlining the background to this work and containing the findings/proposals of the consultative group. We hope you will take time to read the document and we would welcome your response and any additional submissions you would like to make in this regard. To facilitate this, both the document and a feedback form are available to download below. Please return completed feedback forms to Jennifer Lawless at jennifer.lawless@artscouncil.ie. The closing date for responses is 5pm on 7 September.